A grieving mum has shared her heartbreak after her baby boy died due to a rare condition.
Maxine McFarland, who gave birth to her baby Daniel in the Western Trust, was left devastated when he was diagnosed with Edwards Syndrome.
The "life-limiting" condition affects how long a baby may survive, impacting the way a baby grows and develops.
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Telling her story, during Baby Loss Awareness Week, Ms McFarland said: "He was a very special boy and we are so grateful for him.
"Sadly, [Daniel's] esophagus did not join up with his stomach. This meant that Daniel was unable to feed at all.
"As a mother, my job was to love and feed my baby. Without a doubt, I could love Daniel and did, but I was unable to feed him in any way. I was devastated.
"With the help of staff at NICU, I was able to express and give small amounts of colostrum to Daniel for his comfort and, indeed, mine.
"Later I was given a double pump and all the equipment and advice required to express milk for the milk bank.
"There are some technical and scientific aspects to pumping and storing milk but with support and information, I was able to overcome these challenges and get into a routine."
The devastated mum has urged mums who sadly lose their precious baby, to consider donating milk in memory of them so that their baby’s legacy can live on.
The Western Trust Human Milk Bank raises awareness of the advantages of donating breast milk after a baby is lost in pregnancy or soon after birth.
"Daniel lived for 39 hours over three calendar days," Maxine continued. "He was buried three days later. The first opportunity I had to pump was the evening of his funeral, day six.
"I pumped off 80mls from very full breasts. I felt positive. I pumped 8-12 times a day for the next three days and got nothing.
"With self-compassion, I decided to ‘take the next day off’ and perhaps accept that my body would not be able to do this. However, when I pumped that evening I got 20mls which encouraged me.
"The next day I got 40-60mls each pump and was able to donate milk after just a few weeks of approximately five pumps a day.
"In my process, I was so conscious of how challenging it is for some mums of babies in NICU who perhaps, like me, may not be able to pump milk right away or where supply is affected by medication or shock and stress.
"These mums really need the milk that other mums can provide, and their babies depend on it. I know firsthand the devastating feeling of not being able to feed your baby.
"I am very grateful that I was able to provide milk for the milk bank and learn that Daniel’s milk helped many premature and surgical babies and hopefully brought comfort to their mummies."
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